A few days ago I picked up a plastic bottle of toilet bowl cleaner and struggled hard to open it, to no avail. I twisted. I squeezed and twisted. I pitied, rather felt glad for, the child who would attempt to open this child-proof container.
After several frustrating, finger-hurting attempts I gave up and decided to try reading the label. Great idea? Wrong. I hurt my eyes instead. It was a blue bottle with a white background, and a tiny blue print interspersed with special red instructions. The print was so small that all I could see were white stripes and red zigzag shapes--nothing at all resembling English letters or words. Perhaps you are familiar with Christmas trees and other shapes made by typing a series of xxxx. That was more like it.
Then I thought about my friend. I will call him "Terry" for short. Terry has severe behavioural problems. People label him as BAD! Worthless! No good! And he seems proud of these titles. But underneath I have seen his frustration. Like my toilet bowl cleaner experience Terry cannot read, no matter how much he tries. Terry grew too old for primary school and was admitted to high school but if he lasted one year that was a long frustrating time. To compensate for his inability to read he would fight, steal and get into all sorts of trouble. I don't think this youngster would recognize his own name if you handed it to him on a plaque written in bold capitals and underlined. I chuckle as I imagine him staring at a WANTED poster and admiring his picture without recognizing the caption. But this is no laughing matter.
I don't know how far I will reach in trying to help my friend but before this year is over I would like to sit with him and have a go at it. He has asked me to help him learn to read. But he has to know in advance that he has to respect me if we are to work together.
That brings me to a similar problem. There are so many people who attempt to open a Bible to read it, but the words seem strange. It seems so hard to understand. So many cautions. So many archaic words that look nothing like the English we know. Revelations, Lamentations, like a giant puzzle for reassembling. Biblical illiteracy is frustrating. Is there any hope for the biblically Terrifieds?
Yes. Someone has all the time in the world. The one who inspired the Book is willing to help anyone who is willing to understand. But the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the starting point for the student, as clearly shown in Proverbs 1:7.
Ask him, if you find yourself in the awkward position of not knowing how to. There's no need to cover up for your inability.
After several frustrating, finger-hurting attempts I gave up and decided to try reading the label. Great idea? Wrong. I hurt my eyes instead. It was a blue bottle with a white background, and a tiny blue print interspersed with special red instructions. The print was so small that all I could see were white stripes and red zigzag shapes--nothing at all resembling English letters or words. Perhaps you are familiar with Christmas trees and other shapes made by typing a series of xxxx. That was more like it.
Then I thought about my friend. I will call him "Terry" for short. Terry has severe behavioural problems. People label him as BAD! Worthless! No good! And he seems proud of these titles. But underneath I have seen his frustration. Like my toilet bowl cleaner experience Terry cannot read, no matter how much he tries. Terry grew too old for primary school and was admitted to high school but if he lasted one year that was a long frustrating time. To compensate for his inability to read he would fight, steal and get into all sorts of trouble. I don't think this youngster would recognize his own name if you handed it to him on a plaque written in bold capitals and underlined. I chuckle as I imagine him staring at a WANTED poster and admiring his picture without recognizing the caption. But this is no laughing matter.
I don't know how far I will reach in trying to help my friend but before this year is over I would like to sit with him and have a go at it. He has asked me to help him learn to read. But he has to know in advance that he has to respect me if we are to work together.
That brings me to a similar problem. There are so many people who attempt to open a Bible to read it, but the words seem strange. It seems so hard to understand. So many cautions. So many archaic words that look nothing like the English we know. Revelations, Lamentations, like a giant puzzle for reassembling. Biblical illiteracy is frustrating. Is there any hope for the biblically Terrifieds?
Yes. Someone has all the time in the world. The one who inspired the Book is willing to help anyone who is willing to understand. But the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the starting point for the student, as clearly shown in Proverbs 1:7.
Ask him, if you find yourself in the awkward position of not knowing how to. There's no need to cover up for your inability.
